Reclining chair



22, 1953 H. o. BERGENWALL 3,074,759

RECLINING CHAIR Filed March 15, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR RECLININGCHAIR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 15, 1960 INVENTOR.

United States Patent Ofifice $374,759 Patented Jan. 22, 1963 3,074,759RECMNHNG CHAIR Henning 0. Bergenwall, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, as-

signor to Merex Furniture Company Limited, Toronto, Gntario, Canada, acorporation of Ontario Filed Mar. 15, 1960, Ser. No. 15,169 2 Claims.(Cl. 291-318) This invention relates to improvements in convertiblereclining chairs and more particularly to improvements in recliningchairs incorporating automatically adjustable foot rests, adapted to beconverted into full length reclining couches.

Various types of reclining chairs with adjustable foot rests have beenproduced, some of these having the disadvantage that a locking device,adapted to lock the reclining chair combination in various positions, isincorporated, requiring the user to vacate the chair in order to alterthe reclining angle of the chair.

Another disadvantage in conventional reclining chairs lies in thediificulty of motivating the chair through various angles of inclinationfrom a relaxed or recumbent position in the chair.

Another disadvantage lies in the lack of uniformity of weightdistribution experienced in conventional types of reclining chairs, suchlack of uniformity of weight distribution being particularly marked inthe ratio of leg sup port area relative to the angle of inclination ofthe reclining chair, the conventional foot rest end of a reclining chairnormally having a fixed angular relation to the rest of the recliningchair, independent of eventual position of the legs of the user.

It is an object of this invention to provide a reclining chair incombination with an automatically adjustable foot rest in the followingcalled reclining chair adapted to support the weight of body and legs ofthe user uniformly through any angle of inclination from the horizontalto the vertical.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a reclining chair,in which the user may adjust the position of the reclining chairmanually while seated therein.

It is another object of this invention to provide a reclining chair inwhich the incorporated automatically adjustable foot rest may providefull support for the complete leg portion resting thereon independentlyof the position of the rest of the body.

It is another object of this invention to provide a reclining chair inwhich the automatically adjustable foot rest is adapted to double as acoffee table.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a re clining chairin which the automatically adjustable foot rest, through simple lockingmeans located on the adjustable portion thereof, permits the foot restto be converted into a stool.

It is another object of this invention to provide a reclining chairadapted to be converted into a horizontal couch simply by manualmanipulation of a locking lever and exerting pressure upon the upperportion of the back rest of the reclining chair, such pressure beingexerted thereon by the user while seated therein.

It is another object of this invention to provide a reclining chair thatupon being located in the chair position, in which the back rest issubstantially vertical, permits the seat portion to slant backwards atan angle to the horizontal position, yet is adapted to bring the seatportion up to a horizontal position upon the back portion of thereclining chair being laid down into a horizontal position, the seat andback portion thereby being brought into the same plane.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a reclining chairadapted to be manufactured from light material, such as tubes therebylending itself to very easy transportation.

These and other objects and features of this invention will becomeapparent when taken in conjunction with the following drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the seat and back rest portion of areclining chair embodying this invention, illustrating particularly themethod of attaching the swivelable back rest and the movable seat toeach other and to the tubular frame of the system.

PEG. 2 is a perspective view of the automatically adjust able foot restportion of a reclining chair embodying this invention, shown with thepadded surface of the foot rest plate upwards, locked in horizontalposition adapted to be used as a stool.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary end view of the hinging arrangement between theback rest portion and the seat portion of the reclining chair.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of the hinging arrangement shownin FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view one configuration ofthe automatically adjustable foot rest portion of a reclining chairembodied in this invention, illustrating one method of incorporatinglocking device means adapted to lock the support plate of the foot restin horizontal position, either in stool position with padded portionupwards or in table position with a solid table surface upwards.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of the seat looking device shownin FIG. 1 illustrating particularly one method of utilizing a racklocking device to lock various reclining positions of the seat andbackrest portion of this invention.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of a reclining c'hair embodying thisinvention showing the reclining chair with its back rest portion insubstantially vertical position.

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of the reclining chair shown in FIG. 7 uponthe seat and back rest portion of the reclining chair having beenbrought into substantially horizontal position for use as a couch.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the automatically adjustable foot restportion embodied in this invention, shown with the solid table surfaceof the support plate facing upwards and locked in horizontal position.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional plan view of an alternate method ofproviding locking means for locking the support plate of the foot restincorporated in this invention.

Referring first to FIG. 1 the frame work of the seat and back restportion of a reclining chair embodying this invention is showncomprising two chassis side portions 1 and 2 attached rigidly to eachother by means of chassis cross bars 3 and 4. A back rest frame 5 ishingeably attached to cross bar 3 through bearing means 6 and 7 locatedon frame 5 a short distance from lower extreme ends 8 and 9 of frame 5.

A seat frame 10 is hingeably attached by its rear end to extreme lowerends 8 and 9 of back rest portion 5 at hinge location 11 and 12 asshown, the forward end of the seat frame 10 being adapted to rest onrollers 13 and 14 through wedge shaped elevator blocks 15 and 16 asshown.

Locking means are provided, adapted to locate and selectively lock backrest frame 5 and seat frame 10 in any required position ranging fromsubstantially upright position of back rest frame 5 through tosubstantially horizontal position of back rest frame 5, such lockingmeans in this configuration comprising a toothed rack 17 located on oneside of wedge block 16, rack 17 being adapted to engage a tooth 18located on lever 19, lever 19 being pivotably attached to chassis side 2at 20, and extending into handle 21, lever 19 being adapted to maintainengagement of tooth 18 in rack 17 by spring means in conventionalmanner.

The padded portion of the seat and the padded portion of the back resthave (in this FIG. 1) been left out for the purpose of clarification ofthe movable parts as described above.

It will be noted that seat frame 10 in the illustrated position isslanted downwards towards the rear end thereof, to provide a comfortableangle of the seat portion, adapted to provide a suitable resting anglefor the benefit of a person seated in the reclining chair. The back restframe 5 is at the same time located at a slight angle with the vertical,suitable to facilitate relaxation of the user of the reclining chair.

Upon handle 21 being motivated upwards, tooth 18 will disengage rack 17whereupon the user of the reclining chair, while seated therein, mayexert pressure backwards on the upper end of back rest frame 5, easilyforcing this downwards, this motion, through pivotable actio-n ofbearings 6 and 7 on cross bar 3, being adapted to force seat frame 10forwards, at the same time raising the rear end 2'2 of seat frame 10upwards, whilst the user is seated thereon, this being made possible bythe difference in leverage between the portion of back rest frame 5located above cross bar 3, in relation to the portion of back rest frame5 located below cross bar 3.

The inclination of the lower side of wedged shaped blocks 'and 16, whichare adapted to roll on rollers 13 and 14, to prevent wear on undersideof blocks 15 and 16 and at the same time facilitate forward movement ofseat frame 11 through reduced friction, is of a size suitable inconjunction with upward movement of rear end 22 of seat frame 10, tobring seat frame 10 into substantially the same plane as back rest frame5, upon back rest frame 5 attaining a horizontal position.

Upon wishing to motivate the back portion 5 from a horizontal positionto a substantially vertical position, the user requires only to exertvertical upward pull on lever 21for instance while seated in thereclining chair, thereby disengaging tooth 18 from rack 17, lift theweight of his back from back rest frame 5, and deposit his weight onseat portion 10 in a location close to rear end 22 thereof, whereby backrest portion 5 will be forced up into a substantially vertical position,the required position being locked upon release of handle 21 throughre-engagement of tooth 18 in rack 17.

Referring to FIG. 2, the automatically adjustable foot rest portion ofthis invention is illustrated comprising a base frame 23, havingswivelably attached thereto a reversible support plate 24 having acushioned surface 25 on one side thereof and a hard flat surface 26 onthe reverse side thereof.

Plate portion 24 is swivelably attached, transversely of base frame 23,at 27 and 28. Slideable lock handles 29 and 36, located on each side ofplate portion 24 respectively, are adapted to slideably engage and lockplate portion 24 in either of its two reversible horizontal positions.

Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 a detailed view of hingeable attachmentof back rest frame 5 and seat frame 10 is illustrated, showingparticularly stop means 31 and 32, adapted to limit swivelably movementof back rest portion 5, upon this being lowered to a horizontal positionor upon this being raised to a substantially vertical positionrespectively.

Referring particularly to FIG. 5 a detailed perspective View of onemethod of incorporating locking means in the automatically adjustablefoot rest portion is shown, comprising a handle portion 29 adapted to beslideably located on transverse dovetail guide 33, that is rigidlyattached to base frame 23, on one or both sides thereof, inner edge 34of handle 29 being adapated to be slideably motivated to locate in closeparallel relation above block 35 located rigidly on side of plate 24,handle 29 thereby being adapted to selectively lock and hold plate 24 inany of two horizontal positions, handle 29 conversely being adapted topermit swivelable action of plate 24 upon handle 29 being slideablydisengaged from contact with lock 35.

Referring to FIG. 6 a detail of the rack locking mecha nism illustratedin FIG. 1 shows particularly method of resting Wedge block 16 on roller14 and one method of attaching spring means 36, to activate lever 19towards rack 17.

Referring to FIG. 7 method of utilizing reclining chair in combinationwith the automatically adjustable foot rest in sitting position is shownillustrating particularly the adaptability of support plate 24 to adjustitself to the angle of leg 37 of the resting person 38.

Referring to FIG. 8 the reclining chair embodying this inventionillustrated in FIG. 7 is shown, upon the back rest frame 5 having beenlowered to an almost horizontal position illustrating particularly theadaptability of plate portion 24 of the automatically adjustable footrest embodied in this invention, to provide full support for thecomplete leg portion 37 of person 38.

Referring to FIG. 9, support plate 24 of automatically adjustable footrest portion is shown with the solid fiat reverse side 26 of supportplate 24 upwards, locked in horizontal position, adapted to provide forinstance a coffee table for the user of the back rest and seat portionof the reclining chair.

Referring to FIG. 10 an alternate method of locking support plate 24 intwo horizontal positions is illustrated comprising a lock housing 39rigidly attached to base frame 23, having slideably located, and guidedwithin an elongated cavity 40 in housing 39, a pronged slider 41 havingtwo prongs 42 and 43 adapted to selectively and controllably engage withor disengage from two holes 44 and 45 respectively, position of slider41 being controlled by a rod 46 attached to slider 41, rod 46 protrudingat one end through a hole 47 in housing 39 and being supplied withhandle knob means 48 externally of housing 39.

Rod 46 may also be utilized as pivot spindle for support plate 24 bypermitting end 49 of rod 46 to protrude into a hole 50 within supportplate 24, one locking device being located on each of two opposing sidesof support plate 24.

Slide 41 is adapted to engage and lock support plate in either of itstwo reversible horizontal positions.

It will beunderstood that variations in the design of the subject matterof this invention may be made While remaining in the spirit andprinciples of this invention without prejudicing the novelty thereof.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A reclining chair comprising a chassis, a back rest pivotablyattached to said chassis, said back rest extending beyond said pivotableattachment substantially towards the inner portion of said chassis, fora distance substantially less than the portion of said back rest locatedon the opposing side of said pivotable attachment, a seat hingeablyattached by its rear end substantially at the extremity of said shorterextension of said back rest, the forward end of said seat having itsunderside slidingly located on a cross bar attached to the forwardportion of said chassis, said underside supplied with at least one wedgeshaped block, said wedge shaped block being located between said seatand said cross bar of said chassis, the smaller end of said wedge beinglocated toward said forward end of said seat, and locking means adaptedto controllably lock said slidable seat and said pivotable back rest inany selected sliding or pivotable position respectively, said lockingmeans comprising a toothed rack on said elevating wedge.

5 6 2. A reclining chair as claimed in claim 1 in which References Citedin the file of this patent said locking means comprises a rack locatedon the UNITED STATES PATENTS underside of said seat, said rackcontaining teeth adapted to be disengageably and selectively engaged bya tooth 32535 32 5 located on a pivotable lever, said pivotable leverbeing 5 2512353 Magaldino'era'l 1950 pivotably located on said chassis,said pivotable lever 2659416 Heyman T' 1953 containing handle meansadapted to permit manual dis- 2:828:802 i APR 1958 engagement of saidtooth in said rack, and spring means 2,369,620 Gleitsman Jan 1959adapted to engage said tooth in said rack upon manual 2,912,046 Fuerst10, 5

release of said handle. 2,925,122 Winick Feb. 16, 1960

1. A RECLINING CHAIR COMPRISING A CHASSIS, A BACK REST PIVOTABLYATTACHED TO SAID CHASSIS, SAID BACK REST EXTENDING BEYOND SAID PIVOTABLEATTACHMENT SUBSTANTIALLY TOWARDS THE INNER PORTION OF SAID CHASSIS, FORA DISTANCE SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN THE PORTION OF SAID BACK REST LOCATEDON THE OPPOSING SIDE OF SAID PIVOTABLE ATTACHMENT, A SEAT HINGEABLYATTACHED BY ITS REAR END SUBSTANTIALLY AT THE EXTREMITY OF SAID SHORTEREXTENSION OF SAID BACK REST, THE FORWARD END OF SAID SEAT HAVING ITSUNDERSIDE SLIDINGLY LOCATED ON A CROSS BAR ATTACHED TO THE FORWARDPORTION OF SAID CHASSIS, SAID UNDERSIDE SUPPLIED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEDGESHAPED BLOCK, SAID WEDGE SHAPED BLOCK BEING LOCATED BETWEEN SAID SEATAND SAID CROSS BAR OF SAID CHASSIS, THE SMALLER END OF SAID WEDGE BEINGLOCATED TOWARD SAID FORWARD END OF SAID SEAT, AND LOCKING MEANS ADAPTEDTO CONTROLLABLY LOCK SAID SLIDABLE SEAT AND SAID PIVOTABLE BACK REST INANY SELECTED SLIDING OR PIVOTABLE POSITION RESPECTIVELY, SAID LOCKINGMEANS COMPRISING A TOOTHED RACK ON SAID ELEVATING WEDGE.